Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-02-17
Provisions of the Interstate Commerce Bill


The intersta commerce bill was intro
duced by Senator Shelby NJ. Cullom Of H.
linois. Its provisions apply to any COM
mon carrier engaged In the transporta-
ton OF passengers wholly by railroad, or
partly by railroad and partly by water
when both are under common control or
management, through more than one
state or territory. The provisions also
apply to international trade with coun-
tries adjacent. By the term railroad"
bridges and ferries operated by any rail-
road are included.
A common carrier subject to the provis,
ions of the act cannot charge, remand
collect or receive, directly or indirectly,
from any person or persons, a greater or
less compensation for given service than
II receives from any other person or per-
sons FOR cohtemporaneous service. Such
carrier cannot make or give any undue
or unreasonable preference or advantage
TO any particular person, company, cor
poration or locality, or any particul ar des-
cription OF traffic. Every carrier shall af-
ford all reasonable and equal facilities for
the interchange of traffic between differ
ent lines and systems.
A provision of the bill which railroads
regard as especially severe on them re-
lates TO long and short haus. This makes
1T unlawful for any carrier to charge or
aggregate for the transportation
OF passengers or Of like kinds of prop
erty for a shorter than for a longer Is
lance, providing the circumstances are
substantially similar and the consignment
Is over the some line and in the same di-
rection, the shorter being included within
the longer distance. In special cases,
however, after investigation by the com
mission appointed under the provisions of
this act, common carrier may charge less
for longer than shorter di lance transport
alton. the commission prescribing the ex--
tent to which the carrier may be relieved
from the general provision.
The pooling OF two or more carriers.
whereby the net earnings are divided
among them il prohibited. In case such
an agreement is entered upon in violation
ton of the bill, its continuance shall be
deemed a separate OtfenSe. Fares and
rates cannot be raised without ten days
public notice. They may be reduced at
any time without previous public notice,
but a notice shall be given simultaneous
with the reduction. The rules and regula-
tons, and the schedules of rates, fares and
charges must he posted within ninety days
in all stations of carriers subject to the
provisions OF the act for public Inspection.
The bill prohibits interference OF any
carrier in the proper PRONUNCIATION Of
freight, and, In ca.e this provision Is
violated. such carrier is liable for the
full amount to the persons sustaining the
damages caused by such delays togei her
with reasonable attorney fees to the plain
tiff. Persons damaged by the action of
the common carriers may proceed for the
recovery of their damages either in the
courts of the United States or before the
commissioner; but not before both tribu-
nails. A maximum fine of 5000 is placed
on violation OF the provisions of the act,
these violations being constituted penal
oifenses.
The provisions of the bill are regulated
by board of commissioners appointed
by the president by and with the con-ent
of the senate. The commission consists Of
five persons whose terms of Office shall 10
for six years, except for the first appoint
ments, which are to be for two, three, four,
five and six years. The headquarters OF
the commission are located at Washing
ton, but sessions may be held elsewhere.
The commissioners are each allowed sala-
ries of $500 per annum, and they NAV ap-
point $500 secretary. Other employees
may be engaged at the discretion of the
commission. The sum of $40 100 is appro-
priated for the purposes of this act for the
fiscal year ending June 10 1858. The pro-
visions relating to the appointment of the
commission, are. by virtue of the last
section Of the bill. given immediate effect.